Douglas Fowley Movies and Career Information

Douglas Fowley (May 30, 1911 – May 21, 1998) was an American movie and television actor. Fowley was born Daniel Vincent Fowley in The Bronx, New York. The 5'11" actor is probably best remembered for his role as the movie director Roscoe Dexter in Singing in the Rain (1952). The actor appeared in over 240 films and later in dozens of television programs. Fowley's films include Twenty Mule Team, Mighty Joe Young, Battleground, Armored Car Robbery, Chick Carter, Detective, The Naked Jungle, The High and the Mighty and Walking Tall. Fowley began acting while attending St. Francis Xavier Military Academy. After nightclub performing and stage work, Fowley appeared in his first film alongside Spencer Tracy in The Mad Game in 1933. Early in his acting career he was usually cast as movie heavies or gangsters in B-movies including Charlie Chan and Laurel and Hardy features. Fowley, with then-wife contract actress Shelby Payne, is the father of 1960s record producer Kim Fowley. In the 1950s, he appeared on Rod Cameron's syndicated series, City Detective, and the western-themed State Trooper. The World War II veteran grew a long beard in the 1960s to play Gabby Hayes-like roles on television